An incident which stunned passers-by in Exeter city centre has highlighted an issue around public toilets.

A woman was seen squatting and going to the toilet in full public view opposite department store John Lewis on Sidwell Street at around 8pm yesterday (Thursday April 18).

Eyewitnesses claim the police became involved, and the woman was questioned by officers at around 8.20pm.

While her behaviour has been both condemned by some as an act of anti-social behaviour and defended, as her circumstances are unknown, by others - many on both sides agree that accessible public toilets nearby could well have prevented it.

The area where the incident happened on Thursday, April 18

Just last week, Exeter City Council supported a decision to close 15 of the 26 public toilets in the city. Those for the chop include the facilities on Blackboy Road, at the end of Sidwell Street.

It would mean savings of £60,000 a year, after planners were told that ‘some toilets are rarely used for legitimate purposes’.

In addition, toilets nearby have been closed as they sit on land currently being developed for a leisure centre and a new bus station. Others in the city centre are gated off in the early evening.

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Stuart Davis, who witnessed the incident with a work colleague, said that while she had not a "care in the world" he added: "That's what happens when the council are closing so many public toilets in Exeter."

The area where the incident happened on Thursday, April 18

When the story was shared on social media, many others had the same view.

One person posted: "Yep after a long bus journey NO public toilets to use at all!! All closed and locked tight sometimes before 7pm. No lady chooses to do that kind of thing but if you’ve got to go you’ve got to go."

And another added: "What do you expect when Exeter City Council have shut pretty much all of the public conveniences."

Green councillor Chris Musgrave has recently stepped in to save one nearby set of public loos - on Musgrave Row near Exeter Library.

The toilets on Musgrave Row

Cllr Musgrave said this week: "Closing public toilets across the city will cause significant issues for a cross-section of our residents. In particular, Musgrave Row provides important facilities for the city's significant homeless population. Labour made a commitment in 2016 to extend the opening hours of this facility.

"They have now done a U-bend on this and plan to close these important and well-used facilities. It this closure does go ahead, dozens of homeless residents will be left with nowhere to go, leading to an unhygienic and inhuman result for everyone in Exeter."

"Once again the Green Party are leading the charge against the disastrous decisions of the Labour council, but I am grateful for the support of all opposition parties on this. We disagree on many subjects but are united in our view that we need to rid ourselves of this busted Labour flush."

The council are currently in a purdah period, meaning they are unable to comment.